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16 transponders (TP9-TP24) of national bandwidth for MPEG4 HD from 103°

Each transponder supporting 5 HD channels for a total capacity of 80 national HD channels

Within the Ka-Hi (19890-20200 MHz) frequency range

Spaceway-1 (SW1) is currently allocated the entire Ka-Hi (19700-20200) frequency range, therefore it's expected that SW1 and D12 will now share the range, with SW1 using the lower end, and D12 using the higher end

"This payload will allow DirecTV to begin providing commercial service in the 17/24 GHz BSS band before any other satellite operator in the world, making use of these valuable spectrum/orbital resources mere months after receiving its first license in the band".

Progress of DirecTV-12:

02/28/2008: DirecTV Investor Meeting Presentation:

"Will launch D12 because the growing importance of HD warrants its use to expand national capacity. Launch expected late 2009. Capacity for more than 200 HD national channels"

"With the launch of our DIRECTV 12 satellite later this year, we will gain another 50% increase in our national HD capacity to over 200 channels while offering local HD channels to more than 92% of households."

"DIRECTV 12 is planned for launch in the second half of 2009. DIRECTV 12 will operate from our 101° WL orbital location after successful completion of in-orbit testing."

A NORAD two-line element (TLE) set consists of two 69-character lines of data which describe in detail a spacecraft's trajectory around the earth. Calculated and published by the U.S. government regularly.

Like, oh, say . . . we need to figure out who the launch contract is with. With Chase Carey telling investors that D12 will be launched second half 2009, they almost certainly have at least an option on a launch slot with one of the major providers - ILS via a Proton/Breeze from Baikonaur like D10; Sea-Launch via a Zenit SL3/Block DM from the equator like D11; Arianespace via Ariane 5 from Kourou, French Guiana; or a ULA Atlas V from Florida. The first two are the more likely options given the success of both D10 and D11. However, ILS has had a couple failures of their Breeze upper stage since D10, and Sea-Launch had a failure prior to their later success of D11.

In any event, those who have a desire and aptitude for digging around the investor documents of the entities in question might be able to locate the "smoking rocket" so to speak.

"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"Directv since 1997Will Work for Beer

Seriously though...I suspect D12 will be launched as a clone of D11 (it is already), with the same kind of mission to be a flagship sat and to replace an older one. Perhaps if they learn anything in the months ahead from D11 like they did for D10, they may modify it slightly, but otherwise, it should be a repeat performance.

The original contract for D10/D11/D12 lists several heavy lift satellite launchers that the satellites must be capable of launched thru:

[Boeing] will ensure that the Satellites will be technically compatible for Launch on each ofthe following potential launch vehicles: Sea Launch (6100), Arianespace 5 ECA, Atlas 5(521) and/or ProtonM/BreezeM Long Fairing Phase 1 (the “Candidate Launch Vehicles”).Contractor shall not take any action during the construction of the Satellites that wouldpreclude Launch by any of the Candidate Launch Vehicles.

Sixto - Maybe you can add a new section to Post 1: "About D12". For example, is D12 a true clone of D11, right down to the experimental BSS payload? Or is it missing that payload? How does it differ from D10 and D11?

Regarding BSS and what is possible with a launch over a year away: Is there any possibility anything will change before the D12 launch with BSS technology, either with FCC authorizations or the payload itself?

Yes it is possible that the FCC might approve a BSS license in time for D12--but remember that package would have to be built in very soon to make a build/testing/launch cycle for a late 2009. I very much doubt D12 has much of anything in the way of a BSS package as that would be very high risk of expense at this time.

Sixto - Maybe you can add a new section to Post 1: "About D12". For example, is D12 a true clone of D11, right down to the experimental BSS payload? Or is it missing that payload? How does it differ from D10 and D11?

Regarding BSS and what is possible with a launch over a year away: Is there any possibility anything will change before the D12 launch with BSS technology, either with FCC authorizations or the payload itself?

(Great job on the info posted already, by the way!)

Thanks Drew.

Yep, gonna add a few new sections for D12 ... and have plenty of time between now and 2009!

Any guesses to which orbital slot this will go in? How many satellites can each slot hold?

With D12, they can have up 200 national HD channels. But what happens if every channel goes HD, will they have the capacity for that, can they use the existing satellites at 101 for more HD expansion, or is there a D13 in the long term plans?

DIRECTV tells me they have lots of bandwidth available. I take that to mean if all the channels go HD, DIRECTV will be ready. It will be interesting to see who will be the last SD channel standing. I suspect we will see waves of SD channel conversions, and DIRECTV is preparing for them.

As for satellites in each slot, 101 has (or had) at least 6 that I'm aware of. (Not all are DIRECTV.) The real question is how many satellites will it take to completely fill the allocated bandwidth.

DIRECTV tells me they have lots of bandwidth available. I take that to mean if all the channels go HD, DIRECTV will be ready. It will be interesting to see who will be the last SD channel standing. I suspect we will see waves of SD channel conversions, and DIRECTV is preparing for them.

As for satellites in each slot, 101 has (or had) at least 6 that I'm aware of. (Not all are DIRECTV.) The real question is how many satellites will it take to completely fill the allocated bandwidth.

Yes it is possible that the FCC might approve a BSS license in time for D12--but remember that package would have to be built in very soon to make a build/testing/launch cycle for a late 2009. I very much doubt D12 has much of anything in the way of a BSS package as that would be very high risk of expense at this time.

Cheers,Tom

Thanks Tom. From the first post stating D12 was originally planned as an on-ground spare, does that mean it's actually already fully assembled and tested, and just needs to be shipped to a launch facility?

Thanks Tom. From the first post stating D12 was originally planned as an on-ground spare, does that mean it's actually already fully assembled and tested, and just needs to be shipped to a launch facility?

I suspect it is in as close to being shipping ready as is possible for a late next year scheduled launch. Does that make sense?

Cheers,Tom

Yup! I didn't mean to say it would just be sitting in a crate marked "Destination: Sea Launch", either, just waiting to be loaded onto a flatbed!

I would assume it's in a secure clean room, but given some of the posts about potential changes with a BSS payload (if even present on D12) or whether something has to be corrected on D12 based on any issues or problems found in D11, I was just curious how much flexibility Boeing (it is Boeing building it, right) would have to make modifications. It sounds like there's some leeway as long as they fit it in the window you described earlier for testing. Thanks again!